Gun sighting means



Nov. 2, 1943. J. BERESKY 2,333,514

GUN SIGHTING MEANS i Filed Feb. 3, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 2, 1943. J, BERESKY GUN SIGHTING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5, 1943 INVENTOR Jff/v ffsK-x A TJRNEY NOV- 2, 1943. J. BEREVsKY 2,333,514

GUN S IGHTING MEANS Filed Feb. 3, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR .7o/WV 55953K y BY j Mew Y A`(TORNEY to comper's'ete' for the Patened Nov. 2, 1943 rieti-reef sur ore 22333512 n n .GUN s-Iefrrliiwc.fitmeiesi` Jh'ii Eeif'eslyrobklyugN Y: i. v mpiiiieetie'xiilrebmaryfs, lefieirseriei Nere-31.435.331! Y seieims.- (013331-33517 the then if trie-'t rrget'beflocetecratrzoo yardergunt viiieiif eI tefrggee subtentisiet the 'er iieeesseriiy' verlies-1 the n'ieri't-s ofi-"bhe sights adjusted thereto, further t ebieetlef tfri for* fe'eiiitetiiig-f the drawing effi e bead; meen-s3 for s nyl drop theu projectile; 1ho'ther Y words,

the? irri/eritifon`` aisi so to* effect sujeh an l adjustrange. f

Although such adjustment of the rear'sigfhbfi'sf not necessary when the inventief ofi my priif nii-tire '3'- is Secties en' the 133e 3 3 ef' Figi' aretz;

Figure 4 isnal section on the line 1?. of Fig"- Figure 5 iis" e Aseetieii en@ thel line 5:32 ef' Fig- Figure: si is ent entere-eel View ef: tiiesigiieihgf.;

the Wide means shown in Figure 7 with the stop members in their peep sight adjustment, Figure 8 being a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 9;

Figure 9 is a vertical section through the front sighting means and the stop operating means on the line 9 9 of Figure 8.

As hereinabove pointed out, the front sight, which constitutes a part of the present invention, embodies in itself the invention described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 387,995, filed April 11, 1941, now Patent 2,310,929, February 16, 1943. In the front sight herein shown, however, instead of using an ordinary iris shutter, such as those employed for camera stops, for reducing the front sight opening, it is. found advantageous, particularly at the longer ranges, to use the finger type'of stop in which the members do not entirely close the opening although they do define the peep sight.

In the illustrative front sight embodiment of the invention of my prior application Serial No. 387,995, which is incorporated in the invention of the present application, the front sight comprises a housing 2, having a' front opening 4 therein of the desired maximum dimensions, this housing having a rear removable cover 6 with a hub-like extension 8 having therethrough an opening I of substantially the same size as the front opening 4. Pivoted upon the rear cover member 6 are the members I2 carrying the fingers I4Vwhich define the four sides of the eventual peep sight, these fingers I4 being movable by the swinging of the members I2 about their pivots IS in an arc-shaped path but generally radially toward the bead line at the center of the openings 4 and I0. Y

To effect the simultaneous movement of the fingers I4 toward theirY peep sight relation to each other and also into target embracing relationsrfor different ranges, or in other words, to effect the desired adjustments between their wide open position and their peep sight positions, each member I 2 is provided with a pin I8 travelling` in a cam slot 20 in a rotary cam 22 carried upon the hub of a gearr24 arranged to turn in a recess 26 in the housing2v within which the gear 24 just ts. As) shown particularly in Figures 7 and 8, the housing 2 is made up of two approximately-circular portions A and B `which are integral with each other but which are sufficiently short of being `complete circles at the point where they join so that the cam member 22 projects into the `housing portion B and the gear 28 which meshes with and drives the gear 24 vprojects slightly into the part A of `the housing. In the same manner that the gear 24 is supported in the conforming recess 26 of the part A of the housing the gear 28 fits within a substantially conforming recess 39 in the part B of theA housing. This avoids the necessity for providing bearings for the hubs of these gears, which `in the case of the gear 24 might interfere with the sight openings.

The housing 2, as a whole, is provided with a sleeve portion 32 adapted to t over the front end of the riiie or other gun barrel and to be accurately positioned thereon by means of la key 34 fitting in a groove 36 in the barrel of the rifle or gun and in a groove 38 in the sleeve portion 32.

A third part C of the housing 2 has within it a circular recess 40 .within which a small pinion 42, adapted to drive the gear 28 and through it the gear 24, may be located, the gear 42 being mounted upon a driving shaft 44 to which it is keyed at 46, this shaft having a front bearing 48 in an enclosing tube 59 and preferably having a further bearing in the front wall of the housing 2.

As in the case of the front sight operating means of my co-pending application Serial No. 387,995 hereinabove identied, the shaft 44 and its enclosing housing or tube 50 extend to a point within convenient reach of that hand of the gun sighter which engages the hand hold 52 of a rifle such as. herein shown, or any other suitable hand hold when the invention is incorporated in 'other types of ries or guns. The purpose of this, as is fully set forth in the copending application, is to permit the operator, while pointing the gun by means of the hand which engages the hand hold and while gradually pressing the trigger finger with his other hand, to engage suitable actuating means for turning the' shaft 44ftc effectthe gradual movement of thel fingers I4 toward the bead line through, the front and rear sights, thus facilitating the sighting on the target by providing a large sight opening to start with and an approximation to a peep sight when the aim `is completed and the trigger pulled.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, however, the movement of the fingers I4 of thefront sight toward each other is utilized to control theelevation of the rear sight to compensate for any curvature there may be in the trajectoryrof the projectile, hereinafter referred to as the gun trajectory, at the greater ranges.

As hereinabove pointed out, any given dimension -of' a target will subtend an angle at the eye which varies directly in proportion to the distance of the target from the eye. In other words, the angle which a circular target 6 inches in diameter subtends at the eye at a yard range will be twice the angle which the same target subtends at the eye at a v200 yard range. If, therefore, twoy of the opposed fingers I4 of the stop means'enfiployed in the villustrative embodiment of the invention are brought into a position where one finger I4 merely touches the outline ofthe 6 inch target, -as viewed therebetween,

on one side while the opposed` finger I4 touches the outline at apoint diametrically opposite the Vpoint at which the first Afinger touches the outline, when the target is at a 100 yard range, the

distance between these twofingers when thus adjusted will be twice the distance between the same two fingersY whenrbrought into the same relation to thesame 6 inch target at the 200 yard range.` Advantage istaken of this fact so to connect the means for eifecting the movement of the ngers toward eachother to means for varying the elevation of the rear sight hereinafter to be described .that such elevation of. the rear,

sight as is required to compensate for any drop in the travel of the projectile at the greater ranges is effected automatically. In other` words, when the sights Vhaveb'een adjusted in the manner hereinabove set forth so that the four 1ingers I4 of the 1front sight stop means just touch the outline-of a 6 inch circular target at whatever range said target-is located, there will be effected automatically an adjustment of the rear sight such that the bead line through the sights will intersect the gun trajectory at the center of the target.

The illustrative means for effecting an elevation of thefrear 'sight in unison with the adjustment of the front sight stop means, in orderto gire the proper elevation of the rear sight for different ranges, comprises a pinion 54 on the shaft 441, the pinion 54, asl shown in; Figures: 3, 4 and 5 meshing on one side directly with an inter-v mediate pinion or gear 56 which engages the teeth of. a rack 58 constituting part of oney sup porting rod 6u tor the crossbar EZ from. whichfthe rear sight Slt is suspended Theother support-v ing rod 65 for the crossbar H4. is suspended. The other supporting rod 6E. for the crossbar B2' is also provided with a raclcf engaging a gearr lll. which is dvenfrom. the pinion t4 through. an idler pinion 'l2 required tu` cause the gear E01 to more' the rack. d8 in. unison with the rack Eli,

For ordinary short ranges, in. which the gun; trajectory is straightr the rear sightv E4, which may'be,.ior'examp1e,a white line oir its suspended support ld, will rest upon the abutment'lf. If we assume., for example, that there is no cui stantial curvature ofthe trajectory of. the rifle at ranges up to 100 yards, then the fingers. I4 'of the. stop mechanism of thel front sight may be normally' spaced', that. is, when the stopA is in. its. wide openposition., so that' they willemb'race themtline. of a target or a predetermined size at the I'Ou yard; range. Ii the/trajectory begins to curve.- beyond' the m01 yard.- range, then,` if a target of' the". same size is viewed through the front sight opening 4 at a greater range than 100 yards; it. will be necessaryy to move the lingers le toward the bead line to. cause theirv ends just to engage the viewed outline of' this: same target at the greaterl range. This will be done, asi hereinabove described, by rotating the shaft 44 tol-drive thel pinion 42 and through it. the gear 282 and the gear 24.

The illustrati-ve means for' eftectimg the rotation of' the shaft 44' for this: purpose comprises push buttons 'I8 and 8D arranged upon Iopposite sides of the hand? gripy or hand hold. 52' of the ordinary rule so that the ordinary right: handed marksman will engage the left' hand push buttonk 'l-Il with his thu-mb and they rightha-ndjpuslir button 8l) with one or hifs'ngersi having oppositely movingstop-actuating' push buttons arranged on opposite sides of the `Etf-and hold 52 is that no unusuali movement' oir the thu-mbA and hgers is required toeiiiect them-ove'-V ment of the two push buttons '158 and 8B, the acfrom the gun' barrel" by a sleeve ed; The block' 88 also provides a bearing furthe shaft .44.

At the middle part of the: block. 88 ij's a slot' in which a pini-on 92, keyed tothe shaft 454', is. con'- ned. The pinion 9.2` is engaged by two racks, the upper rack 9d* heing connected to the right hand Push button Bil and the lower rack 96 beiner connected to the left hand push button 18. It will be seen, therefore, that when the push buttons 18 and 80 are pushed inwardly as when aiming the gun, the shaft 44 will be rotated, by engagement of the racks 94, 96, with the pinion 92, in a direction to cause the pinion 42 to rotate the cam 22, through the gears 24 and 28, in the direction to cause the fingers I4 to move inwardly The advantage-of".

.Y the crossbar 62.

a lthe target at the greater range..

toward each.. other. Whenthe push buttonsl and ar'e'released the: springs 82 move them outwardly to rotate. the shaft 44! in the opposite' direction and. thus cause the fin-gers l4-to1separate and enlarge the stop opening in, the front sightto its maximum size.

These same rotations of the shaftwill cause first a liiting of' the rods 68 and 66- byi the' racks 58 and 88 and then a lowering thereof;

If, asabovefsuggested, the rear sight eliminen resting. on the abutment 't6 is at thel right eleva-- tion to. draw bead on` a target located at a range within the straightv linepart of the guris' trae jectory', it will only be necessary to raise Sight 64 when the target rsa1; a range that iswithin they curved. part of.. the guus traiectory.. `IThis can readily be determined empirically and the adjustable stop members 98 and Ill!) on the rods Gil and 6E' can thenr -be so adjusted that they will Two such positions of the rear sight are shown inFigures 3 and 4, Figure 3fshowing the sight set for: a. range within: the straight line part of the gun trajectory, the stops 98 and me being below In Figure 4 the target ot the predetermined size is' at a range `that comes@ withinv the curved. party of. thev gun trajectory and therefore, in` rotating, the shaft 44 in, the direc# tion to move the fingers I4 into outlineembrac-i ing,r relation tothe` target at; the' greater hinge,A

the rods and 66 have beenA elevated through the racks Eliav and 68 vsuiiiciently to move the adjustable stop membersI fand IM upward until-Y they have picked up the crossbar (i2 and carried: therear sight, 64 to an elevation` above the 'ab-utment TSI sufl'cient to compensate tor the drop in thetraj'ectory atl the greater range or, in. other words, so that the bead line through the rear and; front sights will intersect.the".t1'ajectory at From'the foregoing description ity/ill yesee'ri that as an incident tothe sighting ofthe gun ou the target and the movement of thengers" I4 of the front sightz stop toward; the headline,

^ an automatic; elevation of the rear sight 6'4 is eiected sulici'ent to `compensate for' the 'curvae ture of the trajectoryjof the projectile at the greater' range. It is therefore' not necessary for the gun. pointer' to estimate therangeifandset an elevation gauge as. in' ordinary gun sighting,

As. herein showin however, elevation readings may" be' 'provided' ony the guides |02' and H34 for. the crossloa'r` 62 from which, if the gun pointer sode'- sires, he may read the range determined. by' the setting of' the lingers M" just toY engage .the out-Ql line ofthe target' of' the predetermineddimension.

the fingers I4 of his front sight into outlineembracing relation to an area corresponding to a 6 inch circular target on almost any type of target at almost any practicable range for open sight work, thus quickly setting his sights to the range,

Reference has been lmade hereinabove to a, f cular` target 6 inches in diameter" at the 100` yard 655` with the resultant securing of effective aiming.`

It will be noted that the illustrative rie is provided with the usual wind drift gauge comprising a member I .carrying the sight and arranged `to be swung about Hi8 by a worm provided with an operating headlli. Thefguides 102 and IM are so connected to the member H35 that they swing bodily to the right or to the left to compensate for the force of the wind when adjustment is made by means of the knurled head H0. To permit such bodily movement of the guides without interfering with the operation of the elevating mechanism, it will be noted that the rods 69 and 65 do not necessarilyrcontact the upper guide rolls i I2 but permit some swinging movementof the rods in either direction to permit them to follow the adjustments of the wind drift gauge. i

Although the invention has been described in connection with its embodiment in a hand held and aimed gun, it will be understood that its broad principles are applicableV to other types of guns such as machine guns, and that the means for controlling the opening of the front sight could also be embodied in other types of sights than that herein shown. i

What is claimed as new is:

l. Gun sighting means comprising a front sight having stop members arranged to converge toward a point in the bead line from the rear sight to a target whereby `they may be caused to embrace the outline of a target of given dimension as viewed through said front sight at different ranges, a rear sight movable vertically to insure proper elevation of the gun for different ranges and operating connections between-said stop members of said front sight and said vertically movable rear sight so intergeared'that, when the front sight has been caused to embrace the outline of the target, the rear sight Will have been adjusted to insure the proper gun elevation for the given range.

2. In gunvsighting means, a front sight, including stop members movable toward a common center to lembrace the outline of a target of given dimensions 'as viewed through the sight, means for setting `said front sight to a normal open position in which said stop members will embrace the outline of a given target as Viewed through the sight at a predetermined short range, an elevatable rear sight and operating connections between saidfront and rear sights, including actuating means constructed and arranged to be carried by the gun in manually operable proximity to a hand hold of the gun pointer when sighting the gun on the target, for moving said stop members into embracing relation to the target outline at increased ranges and simultaneously effecting such elevation of the'rear sight as is required to cause the lbead line through theV `sights to intersect the gun trajectory at each range.

3. In gun sighting means, a front sight comprising stop means adjustable to 'a normal setting adapted just to embrace within the stopped openinga given target at a predetermined range, stop operating means for reducing the dimensions of said stop opening to make it just embrace said target at greater ranges, an elevatable rear sight, means for effecting elevating movement thereof, and operating connections between said stop operating means and said rear sight elevating means, including actuating means therefor constructed and larranged to be carried by said gun in manually operable proximity to a hand hold of the gun pointer, when sighting the gun on the target, for effecting the operative movements of said stop means and of said elevating means in such timed relation to each other that reduction of the stop opening: during the aiming operation, to a size that will just embrace the target at a greater range, will eect, in unison therewith, such elevation of the rear sight j as is required to cause the bead line through the sights to intersect the gun trajectory at the said range.

4. Gun sighting means for use with a gun provided with a rear sight, said means comprising a front sight having therein a normal full sight opening about the bead line from the rear sight to a target, stop members movable into said ope ing to dene a target-embracing peep sight about said bead lineyand meansfor effecting said movement of said members, said means including push buttons located on opposite sides of a hand hold of the gun in position for convenient manipulation by a thumb and a finger of the gun-aiming hand Vofthe'gun pointer, and operating connections between said push buttons and said stop members whereby movementof said push buttons toward each other during the gun pointing operation eiects the desired movement of said stop members into target-embracing relation to each other. i

5. VGun sighting means according to claim 4 in which the stop members are in the form of 1ingers arranged to leave a part of the normal opening'unobstructed as they move into their peep sight defining relation to each other.

6. Gun sighting means 'according to claim 4 having an elevatable rear sight and operating connections between said push buttons and said rear sight Vforeffecting an elevation thereof proportional to the movement of the stop members toward each other.

7. Gun sighting means according to claim 4 in which springs and abutments therefor are provided, said springs being arranged to act against the push buttons in their movement to effect the peep sight deningvmovement of the stop members, whereby they are tensioned to effect theV restoration of the pushv buttons and, therewith, the stop members to their initial positions upon release of said push buttons by the gun pointer.

8. `Grun sighting means according `to claim 1 in which a laterally adjustable support for said rear sight is mounted on said gun, whereby pro- Vision is made for bodily lateral movement of the rear sight to compensate for wind drift.

JOI-IN BERESKY. 

